Don't Cap My Benefits...

[ferlew]

How do you feel about this programme, BBC1, now.

[sherrardk]

So the pensioners are using their state pension money to help out their families, so indirectly even more people are receiving benefits?

(I am only stirring, but there does seem to be some hypocrisy over people who receive benefits.)

[ladybirder]

Sher the money the government pays out in State Pension is not because people didn't plan for their retirement. Everyone who has paid into the system gets to receive it and because that money was not ring fenced and invested as it should have been, as it would have been if it was a private pension, explains why the bill is so enormous now. Oh and the SP never used to be called a benefit when I started paying in. It is NOT a means-tested benefit so has nothing to do with being poor.

[Mamyalynne]

I think this was meant for this thread...

factor-fiction

I think we are in danger of confusing paying into a state pension scheme and then drawing benefits (the state pension) with a group of people who spend a significant part of their life taking from the system but not paying in or making much effort to pay in. (And there are also the other categories of people who pay in but need to take benefits at some stage or those who are genuinely unable to work through illness/disability or caring for others and need support from the state in a caring society.)
16:42 Fri 11th Apr 2014

[pixie373]

Perhaps nobody should get JSA at all, if there are job vacancies within 20 miles or so.

[factor-fiction]

Thanks Mamya. Which thread did it end up on?

[Mamyalynne]

TLS mra1

[factor-fiction]

Thanks- so it went in Crosswords rather than cross words or cross swords

[Mamyalynne]

It did yes. :-)

[murraymints]

dive I refer you to my post of 13.04..i am a little better qualified to pass comment...

[sherrardk]

I have no time for benefit scroungers (the minority) but I also have no time for people who tar everyone on benefits with the same brush. Every time this subject comes up, people who have been fortunate enough not to need any help from the state come out with the same sanctimonious clap trap.

[ladybirder]

sher I think there are very few people on here who are tarring all with the same brush. Common sense tells me that ALL are not scroungers but also that ALL are not genuine.

[murraymints]

bless you sherr xx my thoughts entirely ..I have seen much hardship in my official capacity and tried my utmost to help..even cutting corners and doing things strictly outwith my remit....

[murraymints]

not at all dive..xx but it is easy for some to do so regardless.... when I definitely know otherwise..no offence meant !

[New Judge]

I don't know why the issue of State pensions has crept into this question but it needs addressing.

It suits government to lump State pension payments in with "benefits". It is only in recent years they have been termed thus. As I have said many times on here before, there needs to be a clear delineation between state pensions that have been earned by making the required contributions and those that have not (which, in fact, are not pensions at all but retirement age benefits).

The State pension scheme is perfectly sustainable for those who have paid in (and would be more so if the monies paid out bore some relationship to the contributions made instead of everybody who has paid in for sufficient time being paid the same flat rate). “Pensions” that are not sustainable are those paid to people who have made little or no contribution and they actually receive more than those who have paid in the full whack. The true State pension bill (i.e. monies paid to those who have made full contributions) is considerably less that the sums mentioned. Some studies suggest that only about two-thirds of pension payments are made to those who have made sufficient contributions. Then of course all of the “pension credit” payments are made to those who have made insufficient contributions.

I would have loved to have opted out entirely from the State pension scheme, kept the money and invested it myself. By I had no choice and now it is being suggested that the pension contributions I made do not warrant pension payments being made to me because I’m filthy rich. So, confiscate money from some people under the guise of a pension scheme and pay the funds out to somebody else. Sounds like a good scheme and one which would land conventional financial institutions in court.

[Psybbo]

Well said New Judge

[murraymints]

if you are filthy rich well done but nobody is about to take your state pension either...

[DrFilth]

don't forget round two tomorrow chucks after

> Documentary features a mother of 11 who receives almost £2,000 in benefits <

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2595815/I-know-s-easy-benefits-England-Gipsies-Britain-reveal-claim-thousands-pounds-month-bundle-benefits-not-workxxx.html

[murraymints]

immigrants moving in and taking advantage is a whole different argument..i agree ..look after own first and discourage immigration..